Should positive and negative charge be termed opposites?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether positive and negative charges should be considered opposites or complementary. Some argue that while electrons and protons have numerically opposite charges, the terms "opposite" and "complementary" can be subjective. The notion of charges seeking each other is explored, suggesting that they may not be true opposites in every context. The idea that an inherent changing magnetic field produces an electric field, leading to a corresponding negative charge, is introduced, reinforcing the view of charges as complementary rather than strictly opposite. Ultimately, the terminology used may depend on individual perspective, with "charge" being the more descriptive term.
mee
Messages
213
Reaction score
1
Should positive and negative charge be termed opposites? Maybe they are merely complimentary and this is why they seek each other and are not opposites?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No, an electron and proton have specific charges that can be expressed numerically as opposites of each other.
 
What about if we assume that an inherent changing magnetic field is producing an electric field, as it were, the proton charge, then by conservation of charge there must be a negative corresponding charge; just in this sense, IMHO, they can be complimentary
Regards
EP
mee said:
Should positive and negative charge be termed opposites? Maybe they are merely complimentary and this is why they seek each other and are not opposites?
 
I'm sure "opposite" is used subjectively, since they are not truly opposite in every aspect. "Charge" is the more descriptive word. "Complementary" is also subjective.

It's all in your point of view. If you use either in conjunction with "charge", you probably couldn't go wrong.
 
Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

So here is the motional EMF formula. Now I understand the standard Faraday paradox that an axis symmetric field source (like a speaker motor ring magnet) has a magnetic field that is frame invariant under rotation around axis of symmetry. The field is static whether you rotate the magnet or not. So far so good. What puzzles me is this , there is a term average magnetic flux or "azimuthal mean" , this term describes the average magnetic field through the area swept by the rotating Faraday...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Is there some electrical charge that is neither positive nor negative?
Replies
11
Views
2K
Why the work done is negative when bringing 2 opposite charges together?
Replies
24
Views
5K
B Some Questions about Electric Current/Capacitors to help my understanding
Replies
7
Views
2K
B How is surface charge accumulated?
Replies
36
Views
6K
I Question regarding how to interpret dipole moment for bound charges
Replies
1
Views
2K
Attraction of a positive and negative charge
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Charging Capacitor with one terminal grounded
Replies
16
Views
3K
Negative potential energy and capacitors
Replies
3
Views
2K
I Reason for Opposite Signs for Terms in Faraday's Law and Ampere's Law
Replies
15
Views
2K
What is the difference btwn positive and negative electrodes
Replies
1
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top